North Korea has reportedly replaced its ambassador to China for the first time in 10 years. Choe Byong-ryol has been chosen as the new ambassador to China.Pyongyang notified China early this month, and once Beijing gives the green light, he will assume his new post in March, a diplomatic source in Beijing said.
Little is known about Choe other than that he served as North Korean ambassador to Laos between 2000 and 2004 and director of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's Consular Department. Choe would be the lowest-ranking official to serve as ambassador to China, but the source said he has either been promoted already or will be promoted before his new posting. Until now, North Korea has dispatched only vice minister-level diplomats as ambassadors to China.